Day 175. Psalms 109-115

Psalm 109
Some of the psalms are very obviously communal in nature; this one—number 109—is the profoundly individual plea of one who is being falsely accused of doing wrong and attacked by enemies "without cause" (109). All of us who have had the experience of being gossiped about behind our backs understand his feeling. He feels helpless to defend himself. He is being slandered and cursed; God knows these accusations are untrue, but God is "silent." He makes a long series of the curses that his enemies have uttered against him and the misfortunes of all kinds they have wished upon him (6-19). In the Old Testament often wicked people are smitten with the same evil they wished upon another. The evil things they plot against others become the reward of their treachery. (Remember what happened to the evil Haman in the Book of Esther—he is hanged on the same scaffold he had built for Mordecai.) That is what the voice of the psalm asks of the LORD—that
he will strike his false friends with the same curses they wish upon him—and let them know that their punishment is from the LORD (27). He begs for public vindication—his honor has been impugned—and as the price of his exoneration he promises that with "his mouth [he] will give thanks to the LORD" and "praise him in the midst of the throng" of worshippers in the temple.
Psalm 110
This is a royal psalm was probably composed for the anointing of a new king of the house of David. In it the voice of the LORD offers the monarch his blessing and collaboration—"Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool" (110:1). In the ritual of anointing, the spirit of the LORD bestows upon the king charismatic leadership enabling him to "shatter" his enemies and "rule in the midst of [his] foes (2)." But the king also receives spiritual power to lead his people in sacrifice and prayer. The voice of the LORD swears that he will make the anointed one "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." Melchizedek, who blessed Abraham, was both a priest and the king of Salem (see Genesis 14:17-20). The king of the house of David is given not only military might but also priestly authority, so that he can execute justice according to God's law, repress idolatry, and lead in temple worship.
Psalm 111
This is an acrostic poem—initial letters of its lines form a word or sentence. It is in a sense a word game, but it is also a serious teaching tool designed to impart wisdom—the knowledge of how to live a good life. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (10), the psalmist says. Deep respect and adoration of the creator are the foundation of a life lived in harmony with God's will. Those who are righteous keep God's law—not out of fear of punishment, but because the law is good in itself. The precepts of the LORD "are trustworthy," the psalmist says; "they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and righteousness" (7-8). The faithfulness of God--who provides food for "for those who fear him and is ever mindful of his covenant"--calls forth praise-filled lives of faithfulness in those who fear him.
Psalm 112
The LORD is always faithful to the covenant he made with Israel. This acrostic psalm—number 112—speaks to the way in which his people fulfill their covenant obligations to him —they not only keep his commandments, they "greatly delight" in them (1). They love the law for its own sake. And from their faithfulness to the covenant they not only receive material blessings and honor, they are also offered God's friendship. They are able to model their lives of kindness upon God's mercy. He cares for widow and orphan, and they also "give to the poor" freely (9). They shine with the LORD's reflected light; "they are gracious, merciful, and righteous" (5)—just as God is all of those things. And sharing in God's life, they live without fear—whatever may happen "their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD" (7). They face life justified and unafraid.
Psalm 113
This psalm of praise —number 113—and one that follows are sung before the Passover meal and are associated with the events of the Exodus. The praise of God should be sung by the whole earth, the psalmist says, "from the rising of the sun to its setting" (3). God is to be praised because even though he is exulted, "seated on high," he comes down to take part in the lives of human beings—to rescue and help--not just kings and priests, but the lowly. "He raises the poor from the dust," the psalmist says, "and lifts the needy from the ash heap." He raises up the lowly to "sit with princes" (7-8). This seems a very appropriate psalm to sing at Passover in celebration of how God rescued a band of slaves from Egypt and made a covenant with them, taking them as his own particular treasure.
Psalm 114
This in another of these Passover songs of praise, celebrating how God brought the children of Israel "out from Egypt" (1) and made them his "sanctuary" and "dominion" (1-2). The song playfully addresses the sea, the river, the mountains, and the earth. They tremble, and the voice of the psalm asks why. Then it answers—the created world trembles at the "presence of the LORD," who acts so wonderfully on behalf of Israel (7).
Psalm 115
This psalm—number 115—is traditionally sung after the Passover meal. Israel triumphs over its enemies, the psalmist says, but it is to "the name of the LORD" that glory should be given, not to Israel. The pagan peoples round about ask, "Where is their God?" because they cannot see him. Israel answers that the LORD is invisible to human eyes and yet known through his works. The very visible gods of the pagans-- idols of silver and gold--are mute, blind, and deaf. "They have hands, but they do not feel," (7) the voice of the psalm sneers derisively. And those who make and worship them are like the gods the make—impotent and feeble in comparison with the might of the LORD and of his people. The pagans make gods like themselves, but the LORD makes humankind in his image. So Israel is called upon to trust the LORD, for "he is their help and their shield" (11). The LORD has "been mindful" of the people; out of all the peoples of the
earth, he has fixed his attention upon them particularly. So they should praise the Living God while they have life to do it. "The dead do not praise the LORD," the psalmist says, "nor do any that go down in silence" (17). But the people of God will praise him, from this time on" and as long they live (18).